Wharton FinTech Podcast

Wharton Fintech Podcast
  • 4.6 (135)
  • Technology
  • Bimonthly

Connecting you with the people, companies, and ideas revolutionizing global financial services. Our guests are the leading fintech founders, investors, and thinkers in the world. Subscribe and follow us for more FinTech content by searching @whartonfintech on your preferred platform!

  1. 1d ago

    How Fintech Is Rewiring Student Lending with Matt Palese, CEO of Earnest

    In this episode, host Vaibhav sits down with Matt Palese, CEO of Earnest. Matt brings a rare insider-to-disruptor perspective, with nearly three decades in consumer lending, including 17 years inside the legacy student loan system at Sallie Mae and Navient, before taking the helm at one of fintech's leading digital lenders. Now, with $1.8 trillion in outstanding student debt and federal rates at historic highs, he's leading Earnest through a defining moment for the industry. We dig into what makes a modern fintech lender tick; from digitally native customer acquisition and automated loan disbursement to underwriting models that go beyond FICO, incorporating free cash flow, savings behavior, and career trajectory to price risk more accurately. Matt also breaks down Earnest's no-fee business model, why servicing remains human-centric even at scale, and how the company is expanding its playbook into personal loans. Key topics: why fintechs are better positioned than traditional lenders to navigate economic uncertainty; alternative data and affordability-based underwriting beyond the credit bureaus; the end of SAVE and how it changes the refinancing calculus for millions of borrowers; the "budget illusion" left behind by the multi-year payment pause; product innovation at Earnest, including job offer refinancing for graduates; financial advice for early-career professionals carrying student debt Whether you're a fintech builder, investor, or a borrower navigating this shifting landscape, this episode offers a front-row view into transforming consumer refinancing. We hope you enjoy the episode.

    How Fintech Is Rewiring Student Lending with Matt Palese, CEO of Earnest

  2. Oct 26

    The Bank Built for the Frontier

    In this episode of the Wharton FinTech Podcast, Bobby Ma sits down with Alex Du, COO of Column. Alex dropped out of Stanford GSB to build Column with Plaid co-founder William Hockey. Column is the only nationally chartered bank built for the frontier, powering some of the fastest-growing technology companies, including Ramp, Mercury, and Bilt. It processes more than $4.5 trillion in annual transaction volume, is the #1 issuer of real-time payments in the US, and has the highest uptime of any bank, all with a team of about 150 people. We discuss: his path from finance to COO; the "championship DNA" culture behind one of the leanest, most agile teams in banking; how owning its entire tech stack sets Column apart; where AI is genuinely changing financial services and where it's just noise; and how Column supports companies pushing into stablecoins, cards, agentic payments, and cross-border payments.

    The Bank Built for the Frontier

  3. Aug 28

    Building the Future of Capital Markets with Blockchain

    In this episode of the Wharton FinTech Podcast, Mili Tomar sits down with Michael Tannenbaum, CEO of Figure. Michael shares his experience leading Figure and how the company is building a blockchain-native capital marketplace that seamlessly connects origination, funding, and secondary market activity.. We discuss: structural inefficiencies in today's lending markets; blockchain and AI's impact in financial services; what tokenization means in practice for real-world assets; the shape of the industry as a whole as these emerging technologies continue to influence it; Michael's career journey and Figure's path to becoming a publicly traded company

    Building the Future of Capital Markets with Blockchain

  4. Jun 3

    Keeping a Finger on the FinTech Pulse

    In this episode, we sit down with investor and writer Ilona Limonta-Volkova to explore the intersection of VC, storytelling, and innovation in FinTech. Ilona shares her perspective on identifying emerging trends, backing founders, and translating complex financial ideas into compelling narratives. We also dive into her journey across markets and what it takes to think like both an investor and a communicator in a rapidly evolving industry. If you enjoy this episode you can hear more from Ilona on her platforms https://bearandthebull.beehiiv.com/ and https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/money-memories/id1522819765.

    Keeping a Finger on the FinTech Pulse

  5. May 13

    Building Responsible AI in Financial Services

    In this episode, we’re joined by Georgina Bulkeley, Director of Financial Services at Google Cloud, to unpack how AI is transforming banking and financial services. With over 25 years in financial institutions, she shares what it takes to innovate in a highly regulated industry and how concepts like agentic commerce are paving the way for autonomous money movement. We also explore how AI is shifting from a risk to a powerful tool for fraud prevention, risk management and personalized financial advice at scale, along with the balance between innovation and responsible AI. Georgina closes with her perspective on what the industry will look like in five years and the biggest misconceptions leaders still have about AI.

    Building Responsible AI in Financial Services

  6. Apr 30

    FinTech Investment in Ireland

    In this episode of the Wharton FinTech Podcast, Abhi Chadha speaks with Mairead Fanning, a senior leader at IDA Ireland, about Ireland’s rise as a global hub for fintech, AI, and digital financial services. Mairead discusses IDA’s mission and the role it plays in attracting and supporting foreign direct investment, what has historically driven Ireland’s success, and how the country differentiates itself today as companies compare locations across Europe. The conversation explores why fintech has become a strategic priority for Ireland, what global fintechs look for when deciding where to base operations, and how initiatives like Silicon Island are shaping the country’s AI ecosystem. Mairead also shares insights on Europe’s growing appeal, Ireland’s role in crypto and digital assets under MiCA, the fintech sub-sectors showing the most momentum, and how IDA defines a successful outcome for companies building in Ireland, before reflecting on her first year in her current role.

    FinTech Investment in Ireland

  7. Apr 20

    FinTech and Embedded Finance

    In this episode of the Wharton FinTech Podcast, Jackson Ellis sits down with Mike Milotich, CEO of Marqeta, to explore the evolving landscape of modern payments and embedded finance. Mike shares insights from his leadership experience at a pioneering card issuing platform, discussing how fintech companies are reshaping the way businesses and consumers interact with money. The conversation covers Marqeta’s role in enabling innovative payment solutions, the growing importance of real-time financial infrastructure, and how companies can scale responsibly in a rapidly changing regulatory and economic environment. Mike also reflects on the strategic priorities of a CEO in a high-growth fintech company, including capital allocation, risk management, and navigating public markets. This episode offers a thoughtful look at the intersection of finance, technology, and strategy, highlighting key trends shaping the future of payments and the broader fintech ecosystem.

    FinTech and Embedded Finance

  8. Mar 17

    Modernising Credit Infrastructure: Rethinking Creditworthiness

    In this episode of the Wharton FinTech Podcast, host Vaibhav sits down with Christian Widhalm, CEO of Bloom Credit, to unpack how credit data actually moves through the financial system and why the infrastructure behind it has not meaningfully changed in decades. Christian shares his journey from Major League Baseball to fintech leadership, including his years at LendKey, and explains how Bloom is modernising credit reporting through a B2B, API-first platform built for accuracy, flexibility, and faster reporting cycles. We also dive into Bloom+, which enables consumers to build creditworthiness using consumer permissioned checking account and bill payment history, helping many establish credit profiles without taking on new debt. We cover: - Why legacy credit reporting standards were built for a different era - How real-time, higher-quality data can reduce errors and improve decisioning - What alternative data means for thin-file consumers and financial inclusion - Why policy and regulator engagement matters in credit innovation - A pragmatic view on AI in credit operations and reporting - Leadership lessons on trust, transparency, and operating without ego If you want a behind-the-scenes look at credit, alternative data, and the next evolution of creditworthiness, this conversation is for you.

    Modernising Credit Infrastructure: Rethinking Creditworthiness
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4.6
out of 5
135 Ratings

About

Connecting you with the people, companies, and ideas revolutionizing global financial services. Our guests are the leading fintech founders, investors, and thinkers in the world. Subscribe and follow us for more FinTech content by searching @whartonfintech on your preferred platform!

Information

  • Creator
    Wharton Fintech Podcast
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    500
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Wharton FinTech Podcast

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